European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes 1992 american league East preview jays usurping Boston s turn by Ben Walker a baseball writer in a division where players managers management and stadiums change like no other one thing is still the same this season in the american league East the race is Between Soston and Toronto. Its been that Way since 1985 when with Only one exception those teams began swapping championships. The red sox win in even years the Blue jays win in Odd just How Good these clubs Are is another question a Only the 1986 red sox got past the playoffs. Anyway the pattern would seem to make it Bostons turn plus a Little history going against Toronto namely that not since the 1980-81 new York Yankees has anyone repeated in the division. The Blue jays however Arentt Content to do business the old Way. General manager Pat Gillick called stand path for the Way he refused to make deals broke the Mold last year losing George Bell Fred Mcgriff and Tony Fernandez and getting Joe Carter Roberto Alomar Devon White and Tom Candiotti. Those moves helped Toronto win the division by seven games Over Boston and Detroit. This Winter the Blue jays were at it again signing big name free agents Jack Morris and Dave Winfield. The red sox responded by getting Frank Viola after missing out on Morris. The additions might help Toronto More Tolian Boston. The red sox though might Benefit from some Young players. They also have a new manager in Butch Hobson one of five managers in the division to have changed since the Start of opening Day 1991. Toronto a Cito Gaston and Detroit a Sparky Anderson Are the Only managers remaining from the beginning of last season. A a 1. Toronto Blue jays for the second straight Winter the Blue jays identified their needs and quickly filled them. How Well Morris and Winfield play probably will determine whether Toronto will get another Chance to be the first to bring the world series to Canada. Morris 36, who beat Toronto twice last october a baseball during the past 10 years but Toronto has not benefited much from playing at the sky dome a the Blue jays Nome Field advantage is the smallest in the Al in the past six years. 2. Boston red sox the red sox wanted to give Roger Clemens some support last season and shelled out Mil 92 red sox Butch Hobson. 1m1 record 94-78, tto 2nd. Key arrival Frank Viola pact. Kay Dnn Tura store Lyons mid or out Der. Popular Proa pact 9crtt compar third baseman. Knitt Roger Clement is the my of tier in major league Malory with a .600 winning percentage and 200 map outa Tor an Yean in a raw. 92 Joys manage Clio Gorton. 1061 Raford 01-71, 1al key a Treto Jack Monte Pitcher Dan win Ltd out a elder. Kay departure Tom Cantow Blichar. Populu of Pkt omit Refl out def. Key pm Morria wifi Aat a major league Raford when a Magaana 136i of Naan attn openly Grey Mart. A fled tha Moord led Saavon 1960% and Tom Soever 1906-79. In playoffs capped an 18-12 season for Minnesota by becoming the world series map. The Blue jays want him to fill the role previously held by Dave Stieb still struggling to recover from a Herni led disc that sidelined him last june and offset the loss of Candiotti to free Agency. Winfield 40, will be the full time designated hitter like it or not. Toronto a Dos combined for Only five Home runs and 56 Rols last year by far the worst in the Al and Way below the league averages of 22 homers and 87 Bis. The Blue jays Hope he can duplicate his 28 homers and 86 Bis for California. Toronto led the league with a 3.50 Era even More impressive because the Blue jays play in one of the Best hitters Parks in the majors. Juan Guzman 10-3, 2.99 Era Jimmy key 16-12, 3.05 Era and Todd Stottlemyre 15-8 Are solid As starters and Tom Henke 32 saves 2.32 Era and Duane Ward 23 saves 2.77 Era Are Strong stoppers. David Wells 15-10 and Mike Timlin 11-6 can do both jobs if necessary. The Blue jays have the Best record in Lions for Danny Darwin and Matt Young. For All that Money Boston got two sore shoulders a combined 6-13 record and a 5.17 Era. Give the red sox credit though. They plunged Back into the Market this Winter and signed Viola. As usual the red sox will depend on Clemens 18-10, 2.62 Era 241 strikeouts. Clemens has a .687 winning percentage and three by Young awards in his eight season career in All other games during that Span Boston is Only a ,499 team. If Darwin and Young can Bounce Back and Joe Hesketh 12-4 and Greg Harris 11-12 can hold up for another year the red sox will have a Nice rotation. Jeff Reardon 40 saves joined Dennis Eck Ersley As the Only relievers to reach 40 saves in three seasons. Wade Boggs .332 goes into tie season with a .345 lifetime average one Point ahead of Ted Williams for the teams All time Best. Mike Greenwell .300, 83 Bis made up for another disappointing year by Ellis Burks .251, 58 Bis while Jack Clark 28 or 87 Bis .249,133 strikeouts produced. To Vaughn 24, will get a full time shot at first base because Carlos Quintana .295, 71 Bis will be out until the All Star break after a recent car crash. Phil Plantier .331, 11 or in 53 games might Start ahead of Tom Brunansky .229,70 Bis in right Field. 3. Baltimore orioles a new stadium and a new rotation might be enough to put Cal Ripken and co. Back in the first division. For any improvement on their 67-95 record they can to afford to again lose 35 one run decisions the most in the Al in 23 years and can to lose Glenn Davis for nearly the whole year. Ripken .323, 34 or 114 Bis finished his second map season by winning something he coveted even More his first Gold Glove Davis 10 or in 49 games is Back from a neck problem. Sam 2. Boston 3 Baltimore 4. Detroit 5. Milwaukee 6. New York 7. Cleveland ass Kapihe 2 off season signers Jack Morris left and Dave Winfield tip the balance for Toronto. 92 tigers 817 runs further evidence Why teams should be ranked by scoring not batting. Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker remain the most matched shortstop and second baseman in the majors possibly of All time. They re both 34 and have each played 14 seasons. Tram Mell has 865 Bis 865 extra base hits and 2,022 career hits Whitaker has 859 Bis 859 extra base hits and 1,962 career hits. Bill Gullickson 20-9 worked fast throwing Only 3.27 pitches per Batter the lowest rate in the league. For Pitcher Melido Perez they lost Meli does brother Pascual to drugs. Its Uncertain whether Don Mattingly .288, 9 or will regain his strength or whether Kevin Maas .220, 23 or will get _ Sparky Anderson. 1991 record 8478, Tio 2nd. Kay Antral Dan Gladden outfielder Mark can Eon outfielder Tony Castillo reliever. Key departure Paul Gibson Reuwer. Popular Prospect Greg Goto Pitcher. Kay Flat since Bis became an official Sut in 1920, fielder la Only the third player to Lead tha majors in homers and Bis in consecutive seasons the others babe Ruth 192021 and Jimmie Fox 1932-33. 92 Yankees men Eger Buck show efe or. 1961 record 71-91, 5th. Key arrivals Danny Tartabul out Der Mike Gallego int letter Meldo Perez Pitcher. Kay departures slavs sax second baseman Pascual Perez Pitcher drug suspension. Popular Prospect Gerald Williams outfielder. Kay stat Scott Sanderson led the Yankees with two Complete games. 92 orioles ton Star. Johnny 1981 record 6796, 0th. Kay arrivals Eric Netzel Pitcher storm Davis Pitcher Rick Sut cd Toby is Lwi try Osmi Sara Bob Memn caviar. Popular Prospect Mike Mussina Pitcher. Kay Stab shortstop Cal Ripken who Haa hit 20 or More Homar Tor 10 consecutive mesons Haa led tha Al in a Elding percentage the pad two seasons. No Aho Ritlop Haa done it Tor thro straight years since Luis Aparico s eight year Streak 195946. Or Horn 23 or and Chito Martinez 13 or in 67 games Mike Devereaux 19 or and Leo Gomez 16 or provide pop but the orioles have Little other offence. Baltimore a big Hope is that Ben Mcdonald 6-8 will turn into the Pitcher that he was projected to be that Mike Mussina 4-5, 2.87 Era will pitch the Way he showed he could that Rookie Arthur Rhodes will be Brilliant that storm Davis 3-9 for Kansas City will improve and that Bob Milacki 10-9 will get better. 5. Milwaukee Brewers the Brewers suffered All last season from losing Ted Higuera to a torn rotator cuff and How he pitches this year will be the key to How Well they do. Without him they have Bill Wegman 15-7, 2.84 Era Jaime Navarro 15-12 and Chris Bosio 14-10who is being dangled in Trade talks. Ron Robinson could help if he comes Back from Elbow surgery that limited him to one game. Milwaukee traded rubber armed reliever Chuck Crim to California and with Dan Plesac 2-7, 4.29 Era a disappointment will count on s 92 Brewers Phil gamer. 1991 record 83-79, 4th. Kay arrivals Jesse Orosco reliever Bruce Ruflin Pitcher Ricky Bones Pitcher. Key departure Dale Sveum title Ter tie Randolph second baseman Chuck Crim Retamar Gary Sheffield third popular Para pact cel bared Pitcher. Key mat tha Brewer were 40-19 in their last so games. Doug Henry 15 saves As its stopper. Robin Yount .260, 77 Bis and Paul Molitor .325, 75 Bis Are Milwaukee a answer to Trammell and Whitaker. 6. New York Yankees just when the Yankees look like they might make some strides toward improving their 71-91 record something goes wrong. After signing free agents Danny Tartabull and Mike Gallego and trading any More Confidence. Tartabull .316, 31 or 100 Bis is the big bopper and Matt Nokes 24 or and Roberto Kelly 20 or 32 so must account for most of the offence. Good things Are expected from Bernie Williams Hensley meulens and Pat Kelly. Scott Sanderson 16-10 is the Only reliable starter. The Young duo of Jeff Johnson and Scott Kamieniecki began fast then fell off. Steve Farr 23 saves was a pleasant Surprise. So was Steve Howe 1.68 Era but he a facing Federal drug charges. 7. Cleveland indians the indians led the majors with 105 losses and there is no Way that they re going to become the latest team to go from worst to first. Greg Swindell and Tom Candiotti Cleveland a Only two Good pitchers at the Start of last season Are gone. They now have Jack Armstrong Scott Scudder and Denis Boucher and its unlikely 92 indians. Mike Hargrove. 1991 record 57105, 7tti. Key arrivals Jack Armstrong Pitcher Scott Scudder Pitcher Derek link quest Pitcher Kenny Lofton outfielder Dove Rohde infielder Dennis Cook Pitcher Brook Jacoby it fielder. Key departures Greg Swindel Pitcher Yeeee Orosco Pitcher Eddie Taubensee Catcher Amie Blair Pitcher. Popular Prospect Jim Thome third baseman. Kay mat the Indian have gone 23 straight seasons 19691991 without la fishing in the top had of the Devi lion. Any of them will be a big Winner this year. John Farrell once a Bright Prospect is expected to miss his second full season because of Elbow trouble. Albert Belle 28 or 95 Bis is the Best of the hitters and Carlos Baerga .288, 69 Bis is emerging As a Fine Young second baseman. Sandy Alomar .227 was Hurt most of the season